Flexible tube sprinkler



Jan. 25, 1955 R. J. oAcE 2,700,577

FLEXIBLE TUBE SPRINKLER Filed NOV. 29, 1951 INVENTOR.

jfflaczw mm, 4' I I as $9 ava ar ses-t qr spraying This ventio rel affree-ended nozzles, and specifieg lytq nozzles comp g e le be. -.t. i... Que Ob e t of the invention is s ro a rin e h' roluces'a wedge-shaped sg e by. a centre 131- pjlanar to-q -fr'ci motiorifiiiider h impellingl the escaping liquid; ofa'fre-nded flexible tube. ti

spray covers" aw'ed sh epegaregqr the lawn from a'position at the tip of t h'e 'w'edg'efrather'th'an a circular area from a central position as in prior art flexible tube sp rinklers. The wedge 's'hapd spray makes it possible to direct the stream accurately and to move the sprinkler while in full operation. The initially flat or uniplanar spray does not dig into the turf near the foot of the sprinkler, as do the cone-shaped sprays of previously known flexible tube sprinklers when such sprinklers are directed horizontally.

Another object of the invention is to provide for simple but efiective control and regulation of the whipping freeended tube, so as to ensure operation in a flat rather than cone-shaped spray and through a restricted arc.

A further object is to provide a novel type and form of free-ended flexible tube for use in a sprinkler or spraying nozzle as above described.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention are obtained by providing a free-ended flexible tube having a difierential flexing action, so that its ability to flex or bend is much greater in one axial plane than in others, and by then mounting such tube with the plane of its maximum flexibility in the plane of the desired flat wedge-shaped spray.

Withrthe flexible tube thus formed and mounted, passage of water under pressure through the tube and out of the free end is found to set up a whipping action in the tube, the free end of which is impelled rapidly from side to side. The tube bends to and fro in the direction of maximum flexibility, being prevented from going too far in either direction within such plane by the tension set up in the corresponding stretched side. The considerable difference in flexibility of the tube between the plane of maximum flexibility and the plane of minimum flexibility at right angles thereto permits the tube to oscillate readily in the former plane without any significant extent of motion in the latter. The stream of water coming from the free end of the tube thus forms a flat wedge in the plane of greatest flexibility of the tube. In the sprinkler as it is used in sprinkling a lawn, for example, the motion of the tube is substantially wholly from side to side, and correspondingly substantially completely lacking in the vertical plane. As the water then falls freely from its initial direction of travel as a wedge-shaped spray, it uniformly covers a wedge-shaped area of the lawn or soil.

One specific example of my novel lawn sprinkler or spraying nozzle is represented in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the sprinkler, partly in section, and Figures 2-4 are cross-sectional views of the flexible tube.

The sprinkler of Figure 1, shown partly in section, includes a hollow body portion 11, internally threaded for attachment as a cap to a garden-hose screw connection, having attached at one side a pointed supporting post 12, and having an outlet through a flexible tube 13. One end of the tube is firmly held in a hole in the cap 11 by a hollow tubular rivet or grommet 14.

The flexible tube 13 has a circular periphery at the end which fits into the cap 11, as indicated by section 22 shown in Figure 2. Throughout the remainder of its redu'i' d,"and h ci cu a bbj e f h 2,700,577 Patented Jan. 25., 1955 en h, hqwever, the side of the tu e ar fl ten d as, indi= a ed a 'r on -3;?! s ow ui Fi u e 3,, th reby p ing for iricr as d, t 'y' in the direction of theflat't'en sides." Nearthe free ipbfthe'tube 13, at's'e ctio h'PWn n i ll hh t r d men dila f t W F1 ub silanded il th direction Pa alle with the fla cuter ide's'to anarrgw sl lgw i ser e a a ozz efea her.-- The syrupy mix r is thenpoured into a suitably shaped and c,ore d"mql l, which is next heated to 350 F. to blend the polymer and plasticizer into a soft rubbery homogeneous product. After cooling and aging, the tube is removed from the mold and installed in the sprinkler.

Natural and synthetic rubbers, and other elastic polymers and blends, have proven effective, but I prefer the formulation hereinabove given as having a desirably high degree of flexibility combined with satisfactory outdoor permanence and as being easily formed into the desired s ape.

The sprinkler is assembled by first placing the round end of the flexible tube 13 in the cap 11 through the closefitting hole provided for the purpose, and then pressing the hollow tubular rivet or grommet 14 into the bore of the tube and against the inner surface of the cap. This grommet forces the walls of the tube tightly against the sides of the containing hole, and holds the tube firmly in place in the cap. Cementing or other means of firmly aflixing the tube in the cap are equally effective but somewhat less con- ,venient.

Tubes as above described and illustrated afford a superior means of obtaining the required differential flexing action and are preferred. Other equivalent structures will be apparent, particularly in view of the description as a whole.

The supporting post or rod 12, here illustrated as a continuation of the cap 11, serves to hold the sprinkler in position on the lawn, with the flexible tube pointed upward at a moderate angle and in proper position to emit a wedge-shaped flat sheet of Water. The cap 11 provides a means for holding the fixed end of the flexible tube and for connecting to it the source of water, e. g. a conventional garden hose. These elements of my sprinkler may obviously be replaced by other equivalent means for supporting, positioning, and connecting the flexible tube 13. For example, the rod 12 may be replaced by a separate rod or wire, which may be fastened to the cap 11 by a screw clamp or by welding; or the cap may be screwed directly on a fixed metal pipe serving in place of a flexible garden hose. The flexible tube may alternatively be mounted directly in the wall of such a pipe rather than in a separate cap or body member, e. g. by cementing the end of the tube into a hole drilled in the pipe; in this case the pipe serves all three required functions of supporting the fixed end of the tube, connecting the tube to a source of water under pressure, and holding the tube in the required position for sprinkling.

What I claim is as follows:

1. A flexible sprinkler-tube as herein described, having an end portion for fixed attachment to a support, a flexible free portion having an axial plane of maximum flexibility and at right angles thereto an axial plane of minimum flexibility, and a nozzle portion; the cross-section of said flexible free portion being uniformly externally bounded by two opposite equal arcs of a circle and two opposite, equal and parallel chords of said circle, the outer dimensions of the nozzle portion being no larger and the inner dimensions no smaller than those of the free portion.

2. A flexible tube lawn sprinkler consisting essentially of a short flexible tube, support means for fixedly supportingsaid tube from one end at a moderate fixed angle with the lawn, and coupler means for connecting said tube at its supported end to a source of water under pressure; said tube having a fixed end portion, a flexible free portion having an axial plane of maximum flexibility and at right angles thereto an axial plane of minimum flexibility, and a nozzle portion; the cross-section of said flexible free portion being uniformly externally bounded by two opposite equal arcs of a circle and two opposite, equal and parallel chords of said circle, the outer dimensions of the nozzle portion being no larger and the inner dimensions no smaller than those of the free portion.

3. A flexible tube lawn sprinkler consisting essentially of a pointed post support member for vertical positioning in the lawn and terminating in a cap member threaded for attachment to a water-hose, and a short flexible tube fixedly connected at one end to said cap and providing an outlet therefrom; said tube having a fixed end portion, a flexible free portion having an axial plane of maximum flexibility and at right angles thereto an axial plane of minimum flexibility, and a nozzle portion; the cross-section of said flexible free portion being uniformly externally bounded by two opposite equal arcs of a circle and two opposite, equal and parallel chords of said circle, the outer dimensions of the nozzle portion being no larger and the inner dimensions no smaller than those of the free portion.

4. A flexible tube lawn sprinkler consisting essentially of a pointed post support member for vertical positioning in the lawn and terminating in a cap member threaded for attachment to a Water-hose, and a short flexible tube fixedly connected at one end to said cap and providing an outlet therefrom; said tube having a fixed end portion, a flexible tree portion having an axial plane of maximum flexibility and at right angles thereto an axial plane of minimum flexibility, and a nozzle portion; the cross-section of said flexible free portion being uniformly externally bounded by two opposite equal arcs of a circle and two opposite, equal and parallel chords of said circle, the outer dimensions of the nozzle portion being reduced from those of the free portion, and the axial bore of the tube being expanded Within the nozzle portion in a direction parallel to the flat outer sides of the tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,546,714 Buzbee July 21, 1925 2,325,951 Gresham Aug. 3, 1943 2,580,301 Stuart Dec. 25, 1951 2,620,231 King Dec. 2, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 132,977 Australia June 1, 1949 

